BOCA RATON, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball went on an 18-5 run to pull within eight late in the second half but weren't able to complete the comeback as they fell at NCAA Division I Florida Atlantic, 54-43, in an exhibition game on Sunday.
 
Wendell Powell finished with 16 points and three rebounds. Jelani Bonner nearly recorded his second double-double of the season, tallying 12 points and nine rebounds. Exor Torres finished with seven points and four rebounds on the afternoon.
 
Strong defensive play in the first half kept the Gyrenes in the game early. Torres got the scoring started for AMU with a jumper from the corner to tie the game at 2-2 a few minutes in. After a three by FAU, Bonner made a layup to cut the deficit to one, 5-4. The Gyrenes took their first lead of the game with 8:45 remaining in the first half on a layup by Powell.
 
FAU found its rhythm from behind the arc in the later moments of the opening half, making four from deep to take a 20-13 lead into the break.
 
The Owls opened the second half on a 16-0 run before the Gyrenes went on a run of their own to pull within nine, 44-35, with 3:41 remaining.
 
Trailing by 21, 42-21, the Blue and Green went on a 10-0 run capped by a Brandon Barnes three-pointer to pull within 11. A couple minutes later, Bonner made a pair of free throws to bring the Gyrenes' deficit into single figures, 44-35.
 
A few minutes later, Powell drove to the basket and made the layup to get the Gyrenes within eight, 47-39, with 2:37 remaining. FAU came back with a three to put the game out of reach for AMU.
 
As a team, Ave Maria shot 34 percent from the field and made 3-of-14 from behind the arc. The Gyrene defense held FAU to 42.6 percent shooting. The Owls made 9-of-28 from three. Ave Maria outrebounded Florida Atlantic 35-29 and outscored FAU in the paint 24-22.
 
Jackson Trapp went 6-of-11 from three to lead FAU with 20 points. He was the only Owl in douible-figures. Justin Raffington finished with nine points and six rebounds for the Owls.
 
The Gyrenes return to the court on Saturday when they travel to Webber International for AMU's Sun Conference opener. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.